Automobile and Consumerism

The automobile has completely revolutionized consumer culture. From being a novel invention that very few could afford to own, to becoming the number one purchased product in the United States, the automobile has not only changed the way that individuals travel independently, it has also altered the advertising industry. Advertising is the mechanism by which consumers are able to become aware of the products that are being made and sold (Pricken, 2004). This has in turn created a culture based on materialism and consumerism. Individuals are now purchasing items that are not necessarily essential, but they are presented in a way that allows consumers to believe that their lives would not be able to function appropriately without them. When it comes to the automobile, the techniques are no different. In modern, developed countries, the automobile is as common as having a bicycle. It is heavily relied on...
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